OTTAWA — Longtime Liberal heavyweight Chrystia Freeland is leaving cabinet to take on a high-profile diplomatic role as Canada’s representative to Ukraine, CBC News has learned.

Sources familiar with the move — who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly — say the Toronto MP and current transport and internal trade minister could make the announcement as early as Tuesday.

Freeland, one of the most recognizable faces in Canadian politics, has served in cabinet almost continuously since the Liberals came to power in 2015. She previously held some of the government’s most influential portfolios, including foreign affairs and finance — becoming the first woman to hold the finance minister role in 2020.

Her departure marks the end of an era. A key architect of the Trudeau government’s international trade policy, Freeland was instrumental in negotiating the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) during the tumultuous early days of Donald Trump’s presidency. She has also been a consistent and vocal critic of Russia, which sanctioned her in 2014 for her strong support of Ukraine.

Freeland’s sudden resignation as finance minister last December rattled Ottawa and heightened pressure on then–prime minister Justin Trudeau to step down, a move that ultimately paved the way for a Liberal leadership race. Freeland herself entered the contest but ultimately lost to Mark Carney, who led the party to a dramatic comeback win in April’s federal election.

Dominic LeBlanc, Canada-U.S. trade minister, is expected to assume Freeland’s internal trade responsibilities, while government House leader Steve MacKinnon will take over the transport file, according to sources.

Freeland’s next chapter will take her far from Parliament Hill but closer to one of the issues that has long defined her career — supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and democracy.